Canada has made history by appointing Evan Solomon, a former broadcast journalist, as its first-ever Federal Minister dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. This new role aims to oversee the growth of the AI sector and its integration into Canada's economy.
Solomon's responsibilities will likely focus on re-igniting Canada's technology sector, updating framework policies to address digital issues such as economic growth, security, and privacy concerns, and improving the federal government's use of digital technology.
The appointment reflects Canada's growing recognition of AI's importance and potential impact on society. The Canadian government has been actively working on AI-related initiatives, including the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) and the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, launched in 2017.
The Pan-Canadian AI Strategy aims to strengthen Canada's leadership in AI through scientific excellence, high-quality training, and public-private collaboration. The strategy is supported by national AI institutes, including Amii in Edmonton, Mila in Montreal, and the Vector Institute in Toronto, which serve as hubs for Canada's thriving AI ecosystem.
Canada has also invested $2 billion in its Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy to build and provide access to computing capabilities and technological infrastructure for AI researchers and companies. This move demonstrates Canada's commitment to advancing AI research and development.
